China clears Focus Media deal with price caps, exclusivity ban
By Yonnex Li ( October 12, 2026, 07:45 GMT | Insight) -- China has conditionally approved Focus Media's $1.2 billion acquisition of smaller rival Xinchao Media, imposing price caps and banning exclusive deals in the country's first conditional merger approval in the advertising industry. The remedies aim to prevent the combined entity, which would control up to 60 percent of China's elevator advertising market, from squeezing advertisers and blocking competitors from accessing prime locations in office buildings and residential complexes.China has conditionally approved Focus Media Information Technology's acquisition of smaller rival Chengdu Xinchao Media Group, imposing price caps and banning exclusive deals to preserve competition in a market where the merged company would dominate elevator advertising....
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